Personal identification card scanning tool and method of using the same

ABSTRACT

A personal identification card scanning tool comprises a first holding portion that is configured and adapted to hold a portable computing device, and a second holding portion that is configured and adapted to hold a personal identification card in a particular orientation and position relative to the portable computing device such that a line-of-sight exists between at least a portion of the portable computing device and at least a portion of the personal identification card. The relative orientation and position between the portable computing device and the personal computing device optimizes the ability for the portable computing device&#39;s camera to scan optical information provided on the personal identification card.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains to scanning tools. More particularly, thepresent invention pertains to a scanning tool for optically scanningpersonal identification cards using the camera of a portable computingdevice. Even more particularly, the present invention pertains to ascanning tool that is configured to hold a personal identification cardin a particular position relative to the camera of the portablecomputing device, which maximizes the ability of the portable computingdevice to quickly and accurately optically scan information provided onthe personal identification card.

2. General Background

In various situations, it is helpful to be able to optically scaninformation provided on personal identification cards into a computingdevice. For example, police officers may find it helpful to scandriver's licenses to avoid errors in recording identificationinformation. It also may be useful for bars and nightclubs to opticallyscan information provided on personal identification cards to verify theage of customers, especially in low light situations. Still further,voter polling places can benefit from optically scanning informationprovided on personal identification cards to lower voter fraud.

Most modern portable computing devices, such as tablet computers andcell phones, include a camera. Such devices can run softwareapplications that allow the computing devices to optically scan datausing their cameras. In addition to optical character recognitionsoftware, such devices may include software for scanning one-dimensionalbar codes, such as universal product codes, and two-dimensional matrixcodes, such as quick response and PDF 417 codes.

There are difficulties associated with scanning personal identificationcards with portable computing devices like cell phones and tabletcomputers. For example, it is particularly difficult to scan PDF 417barcodes found on the back of state driver's licenses. It is often noteasy to align the camera of the computing device in a manner such thatthe information provided on the personal identification card can beoptically scanned. Moreover, it often takes an appreciable amount oftime to adjust the distance and angle between a barcode on the personalidentification card and the camera to obtain sufficient imaging clarity.In some situations, such delays can be highly problematic, taking up to30 to 60 seconds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the difficulties associated withscanning personal identification cards using portable computing devices.In accordance with the present invention, a scanning tool is configuredto hold a personal identification card in a particular position relativeto the camera of the portable computing device, which maximizes theability of the portable computing device to quickly and accuratelyoptically scan information provided on the personal identification card.

In one aspect of the present invention, a personal identification cardscanning tool comprises a first holding portion that is configured andadapted to hold a portable computing device in a particular orientationand comprises a second holding portion that is configured and adapted tohold a personal identification card in a particular orientation. Thefirst holding portion is structurally connected to the second holdingportion in a manner such that a camera of a portable computing deviceand a personal identification card are fixed in relative positions andorientations with respect to each other and are generally parallel toand spaced apart from each other when the portable computing device isheld by the first holding portion and the personal identification cardis held by the second holding portion. The scanning tool is furtherconfigured and adapted such that a line-of-sight exists between thecamera of the portable computing device and at least a portion of thepersonal identification card when the portable computing device is heldby the first holding portion and the personal identification card isheld by the second holding portion.

Another aspect of the present invention provides for a method ofoptically scanning information provided on a personal identificationcard. The method comprises activating a camera provided on a portablecomputing device to optically scan information provided on a personalidentification card. In the method, a portable computing device and anidentification card are held by a scanning tool comprising a firstholding portion that holds the portable computing device in a particularorientation and a second holding portion that holds the personalidentification card in a particular orientation. The first holdingportion is structurally connected to the second holding portion in amanner such that the camera of the portable computing device and thepersonal identification card are fixed in relative positions andorientations with respect to each other and are generally parallel toand spaced apart from each other in a manner such that the camera of theportable computing device is able to focus on the information providedon the personal identification card and such that the informationprovided on the personal identification card is generally maximized inthe camera's field-of-view.

These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art in light of the following disclosure and accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may bemade to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a personal identification cardscanning tool in accordance with the invention, showing the top, front,and left sides of the scanning tool;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional right side view showing of the scanning toolshown in FIG. 1 holding a portable computing device and a personalidentification card;

FIG. 3 is a left side view of the scanning tool shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the scanning tool shown in FIGS. 1 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the scanning tool shown in FIGS. 1, 3,and 4, with the scanning tool placed on a flat surface and holding apersonal identification card and a portable computing device;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an alternative embodiment of apersonal identification card scanning tool in accordance with theinvention, showing the top, back, and left sides of the scanning tool;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the embodiment of the personalidentification card scanning tool shown in FIG. 6, showing the top,front, and left sides of the scanning tool.

Reference numerals in the written specification indicate correspondingitems shown throughout the drawing figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment of a scanning tool in accordance with the invention isshown by itself in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, and is generally indicated by thereference numeral 2. The scanning tool 2 comprises a first holdingportion 4, a second holding portion 6, and a connecting wall 7. Thefirst holding portion 4 is configured and adapted to hold a portablecomputing device 8 in a particular orientation, such as shown in FIGS. 2and 5. The portable computing device 8 may be any type portablecomputing device such as, but not limited to, a tablet computer, alaptop computer, or a cell phone, which comprises a camera and theability to scan information via the camera. The second holding portion 6of the scanning tool 2 is configured and adapted to hold a personalidentification card 10 in a particular orientation. The first holdingportion 4 and the second holding portion 6 are structurally connected toeach other by the connecting wall 7. The scanning tool 2 is preferablyconfigured such that, when a portable computing device 8 is held by thefirst holding portion 4 and a personal identification card 10 is held bythe second holding portion 6, the portable computing device and thepersonal identification card are fixed in relative positions andorientations with respect to each other. Preferably the portablecomputing device 8 and the personal identification card 10 are heldgenerally parallel to and spaced apart from each other to place them ina position and orientation that optimizes the ability of the camera 12of the personal computing device to image the information on thepersonal identification card.

FIG. 2 depicts a cross-sectional side view of the scanning tool 2 withthe second holding portion 6 on the left holding a personalidentification card 10, and a portable computing device 8 being held bythe first holding portion 4. The plane of the cross-section is takenthrough the camera 12 of a portable computing device 8. As shown, when aportable computing device 8 is held by the first holding portion 4 and apersonal identification card 10 is held by the second holding portion 6,a line-of-sight (dashed line 13) exists between the camera 12 of theportable computing device and at least a portion of the personalidentification card. Preferably, when a portable computing device 8 isheld by the first holding portion 4 and a personal identification card10 is held by the second holding portion 6, the desired informationprovided on the personal identification card is generally maximized inthe camera's 12 field-of-view and is in focus. However, if suchinformation cannot be both maximized in the camera's 12 field-of-viewand in focus, preferably the information is shrunk in the camera's 12field-of-view only to the degree necessary to achieve a proper focus.This is achieved by configuring the scanning tool 2 such that thedistance between the personal identification card 10 and the camera 12of the portable computing device 8 is equal to or greater than thecamera's minimum focal distance, which can be achieved by properlydimensioning the height of the connecting wall 7 between the firstholding portion 4 and the second holding portion 6. The informationwithin the camera's 12 field-of-view may also be set by properlydimensioning the height of the connecting wall 7 and/or by properlysetting the location of the second holding portion 6 front-to-back andside-to-side relative to the camera's 12 location. One of skill in theart will recognize that such parameters can be determined for use withdifferent camera positions and camera properties of various portablecomputing devices and with different formats and/or positions ofinformation on different personal identification cards.

As shown in the figures, the first holding portion 4 of the scanningtool 2 preferably comprises a surface 14 and a plurality of retainingmembers 16. The surface 14 of the first holding portion 4 is configuredto support a portable computing device 8 that is biased against thesurface by gravity. Thus, the gravity and the surface 14 preventmovement of the portable computing device in a first direction, namely,in a direction normal to the surface. The retaining members 16 arepreferably perpendicular to the surface 14 so as to limit or preventmovement of the portable computing device 8 by contact in at least oneof the other two oblique directions (oblique relative to the normal ofthe main surface 14) relative to the first holding portion 4. As shown,the retaining members 16 are more preferably configured such that atleast one retaining member lies on each side of the four sides of theportable computing device 8 so as to thereby prevent movement of theportable computing device in both of the oblique directions relative tothe first holding portion 4. As used herein, movement in a “direction”means positive or negative movement along a vector. Thus, to prevent orlimit relative motion in a direction as mentioned herein requireslimiting both positive and negative movement along a vector.

Like the first holding portion 4 of the scanning tool 2, the secondholding portion 6 comprises a surface 18 and a plurality of retainingmembers 20. When a personal identification card 10 is biased against thesurface 18 by gravity, gravity and the surface prevent movement of thepersonal identification card in a first direction that is normal to thesurface. The retaining members 20 limit movement of the personalidentification card 10 in at least one of the other two obliquedirections relative to the second holding portion 6. More preferably,the retaining members 20 limit movement of the personal identificationcard 10 in just one of the other two oblique directions and gravity andthe connecting wall 7 of the scanning tool 2 is configured to serve as ameans of aligning the personal identification card along the other ofthe oblique directions (by contact). Thus, it should be appreciated thatthe personal identification card 10 can be slid off of the surface 18 ofthe second holding portion 6 away from the connecting wall 7.

The first holding portion 4, the second holding portion 6, and theconnecting wall 7 of the scanning tool 2 are all preferably formed as asingle monolithic body from a single piece of sheet metal. The sheetmetal is preferably aluminum or stainless steel. The surface 14 of thefirst holding portion 4 and the surface 18 of the second holding portion6 are preferably parallel to each other, and the connecting wall 7 ispreferably perpendicular thereto. The retaining members 16 of the firstholding portion 4 are preferably simple tabs that are bent upward,perpendicular to the surface 14 of the first holding portion. Likewise,the retaining members 18 of the second holding portion 6 are preferablytabs that are bent upward, perpendicular to the surface 20 of the secondholding portion. As shown, the scanning tool 2 may also comprise otherelements, such as a stylist holder 21. As is also shown, the stylistholder 21 may simply be a tab that comprises a circular opening and thatextends in a coplanar manner from the surface 14 of the first holdingportion 4.

The embodiment of the scanning tool 2 described above is particularlywell suited for use at voter polling places. In use at such a pollingplace, the scanning tool 2 is preferably placed on a flat surface 22,such as a desk. As shown in FIG. 5, the configuration of the scanningtool 2 is such that the surface 14 of the first holding portion 4 andthe surface 18 of the second holding portion 6 are oriented at an angle24 relative to the flat surface 22. Preferably the angle 24 is betweenten and twenty-five degrees. More preferably, the angle 24 is betweenfifteen and twenty degrees. The angle allows a voter and/or a pollworker to easily view the information displayed on a portable computingdevice 8 being held by the first holding portion 4 of the scanning tool2 when the voter or poll worker is sitting or standing behind thescanning tool. By positioning the second holding portion 6 of thescanning tool 2 at the front of the scanning tool, a voter can easilyplace his or her personal identification card 10 on the second holdingportion 6 of the scanning tool while sitting or standing in front of thescanning tool. Also, by positioning the second holding portion 6 of thescanning tool 2 at the front of the scanning tool, a poll worker caneasily place a voter's personal identification card 10 on the secondholding portion 6 of the scanning tool while sitting or standing infront of the scanning tool. The configuration of the scanning tool aidsin the placement of a personal identification card, for example, a pollworker can easily place a voter's personal identification card 10 on thesecond holding portion 6 of the scanning tool while sitting in front ofthe scanning tool simply by feeling for the second holding portion 6 andplacing the personal identification card 10 in between the retainingmembers 20. The inclination angle 24 of the surface 18 of the secondholding portion 6 of the scanning tool 2, and gravity, will ensure thatthe personal identification card 10 contacts the connecting wall 7 ofthe scanning tool, which ensures that the personal identification card10 is optimally positioned relative to the camera 12 of the portablecomputing device 8. Once this is done, the operator of the portablecomputing device 8 can use the camera 12 of the portable computingdevice 8 to scan optical information provided on the personalidentification card 10 into the portable computing device. Because thescanning tool 2 holds the personal identification card 10 in the optimumposition for scanning relative to the portable computing device 8, notrial and error is required and the scanning procedure can be performedquickly and with minimal training. If necessary, the operator can rotatethe scanning tool 2 on the flat surface 22 to allow the voter to viewthe scanned information via the portable computing device 8 so as toallow confirmation of the accuracy of such information. If necessary,the operator can rotate the scanning tool 2 on the flat surface 22 toallow the voter to sign their signature and/or initials on the portablecomputing device 8, such as with a stylus, or input other informationinto the portable computing device as may be desired. The angle 24 maybe selected to make capturing a signature optimal. To this end, thescanning tool 2 may be provided with felt or Teflon® pads (not shown) tofacilitate rotation of the scanning tool on the flat surface 22. Afterthe voter check-in process has been completed, the voter or poll workercan simply slide his or her identification card 10 forward and off ofthe second holding portion 6 of the scanning tool 2. To facilitate theremoval of the personal identification card 10, the width of the surface18 of the second holding portion 6 is preferably less than that of thepersonal identification card 10, such that the personal identificationcard hangs slightly off of the second holding portion as it is held bythe second holding portion (as shown in the figures). This makes it easyfor the voter or poll worker to grasp the personal identification card10 when removing the personal identification card from the scanning tool2.

Although the use of the scanning tool 2 has been described in referenceto voting verification procedures, it should be appreciated that thesame procedures could be used for other unrelated proposes. For example,the same steps described above would apply equally well for purposes ofage verification in grocery stores, bars, and clubs.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show an alternative embodiment of a scanning tool inaccordance with the invention that comprises the aforementionedfeatures, and as a few additional features. The retaining members 16 ofthe first holding portion 4 of this embodiment are adapted andconfigured to cover at least an area of the screen or controls of aportable computing device that is held by the first holding portion 4.This may be achieved, as shown in FIG. 6, by providing shroud portions17 that protrude from the retaining members 16 and that are adapted tocover at least an area of the screen or controls of a portable computingdevice that is held by the first holding portion 4. Preferably, theshroud portions 17 are parallel or substantially parallel to the planeof the first holding portion 4 or otherwise configured to preventviewing of and/or interaction with an area of the screen or controls ofthe portable computing device when it is held by the first holdingportion 4. Although the shroud portions 17 cover an area of the portablecomputing device, they are adapted and configured to allow the portablecomputing device to be used to practice the invention (i.e., theretaining member 16 does not greatly impede the placement of theportable computing device on the first holding portion 4 and allows anynecessary controls on the portable computing device to be accessed). Oneadvantage of shroud portions 17 is that shroud portions also serve,together with the retaining members 16, to more securely hold theportable computing device on the first holding portion 4. Anotheradvantage of shroud portions 18 is that they may prevent the viewing orinteraction with certain displays or controls of the portable computingdevice. For example, the shroud portions may prevent voters or pollworkers from touching controls on a portable computing device that arenot necessary for them to operate the device. The position, number, anddimensions of the shroud portions 18 can be optimized for any particularone of various portable computing devices and even for various displaysand controls on the same type portable computing device.

The embodiment of the scanning tool shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 alsocomprises support tabs 26 protruding from the bottom of the front of theconnecting wall 7. The support tabs 26 are preferably configured so thatwhen the scanning tool is placed on a flat surface, the support tabs 26are generally parallel to the flat surface and support the front end ofthe scanning from the surface. Felt, Teflon®, or other low friction padsmay be provided on the bottom of the support tabs 26 to lessen frictionand facilitate movement such as rotation of the scanning tool on theflat surface.

As various modifications could be made in the constructions and methodsherein described and illustrated without departing from the scope of theinvention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoingdescription or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpretedas illustrative rather than limiting. For example, the scanning tooldoes not necessarily have to be rigid and could instead be collapsibleor partially pliable. Moreover, the scanning tool could be handheldand/or configured to hold the portable computing device and personalidentification card even when inverted. Thus, the breadth and scope ofthe present invention should not be limited by any of theabove-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only inaccordance with the following claims appended hereto and theirequivalents.

It should also be understood that when introducing elements of thepresent invention in the claims or in the above description of exemplaryembodiments of the invention, the terms “comprising,” “including,” and“having” are intended to be open-ended and mean that there may beadditional elements other than the listed elements. Additionally, theterm “portion” should be construed as meaning some or all of the item orelement that it qualifies. Moreover, use of identifiers such as first,second, and third should not be construed in a manner imposing anyrelative position or time sequence between limitations. Still further,the order in which the steps of any method claim that follows arepresented should not be construed in a manner limiting the order inwhich such steps must be performed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A personal identification card scanning toolcomprising a first holding portion and a second holding portion, thefirst holding portion being configured and adapted to hold a portablecomputing device in a particular orientation, the second holding portionbeing configured and adapted to hold a personal identification card in aparticular orientation, the first holding portion being structurallyconnected to the second holding portion in a manner such that theportable computing device and the personal identification card are fixedin relative positions and orientations with respect to each other andare generally parallel to and spaced apart from each other when theportable computing device is held by the first holding portion and thepersonal identification card is held by the second holding portion, thescanning tool being configured and adapted such that a line-of-sightexist between at least a portion of the portable computing device and atleast a portion of the personal identification card when the portablecomputing device is held by the first holding portion and the personalidentification card is held by the second holding portion.
 2. A personalidentification card scanning tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein thescanning tool is configured and adapted such that, when the portablecomputing device is held by the first holding portion and the personalidentification card is held by the second holding portion and when thescanning tool is placed on a flat surface, the portable computing deviceand the personal identification card are held at an angle relative tothe surface.
 3. A personal identification card scanning tool inaccordance with claim 1 wherein the first holding portion comprisesretaining members and a surface, and the first holding portion isadapted and configured such that, when a portable computing device isbiased against the surface of the first holding portion by gravity, thesurface and gravity will prevent movement of the portable computingdevice in a first direction and the retaining members will limitmovement of the portable computing device in at least one of the othertwo oblique directions relative to the first holding portion.
 4. Apersonal identification card scanning tool in accordance with claim 3wherein the first holding portion is configured and adapted such thatthe portable computing device can be slid onto and off of the surface ofthe first holding portion in one of the other of the other two obliquedirections.
 5. A personal identification card scanning tool inaccordance with claim 1 wherein the second holding portion comprisesretaining members and a surface, and the second holding portion isadapted and configured such that, when a personal identification card isbiased against the surface of the second holding portion by gravity, thesurface and gravity will prevent movement of the personal identificationcard in a first direction and the retaining members of the secondholding portion will limit movement of the portable computing device inone of the other two oblique directions relative to the second holdingportion, the second holding portion being configured and adapted suchthat the personal identification card can be slid onto and off of thesurface of the second holding portion in the other of the other twooblique directions.
 6. A personal identification card scanning tool inaccordance with claim 5 wherein the first holding portion comprisesretaining members and a surface, and the first holding portion isadapted and configured such that, when a portable computing device isbiased against the surface of the first holding portion by gravity, thesurface and gravity will prevent movement of the portable computingdevice in the first direction and the retaining members will limitmovement of the portable computing device in at least one of the othertwo oblique directions relative to the first holding portion.
 7. Apersonal identification card scanning tool in accordance with claim 6wherein the scanning tool is configured and adapted such that, when theportable computing device is held by the first holding portion and thepersonal identification card is held by the second holding portion andwhen the scanning tool is placed on a flat surface, the portablecomputing device and the personal identification card are held at anangle relative to the surface.
 8. A personal identification cardscanning tool in accordance with claim 7 wherein the scanning tool is amonolithic rigid body formed of bent sheet metal.
 9. A personalidentification card scanning tool in accordance with claim 8 wherein theretaining members of the first holding portion are tabs extending upwardand perpendicular from the surface of the first holding portion, and theretaining members of the second holding portion are tabs extendingupward and perpendicular from the surface of the second holding portion.10. A personal identification card scanning tool in accordance withclaim 1 further comprising at least one shroud portion that isconfigured and adapted to cover at least one control button or controlinput area of a portable computing device that is held by the firstholding portion.
 11. A method of optically scanning information providedon a personal identification card, the method comprising activating acamera provided on a portable computing device to optically scan theinformation provided on a personal identification card, the portablecomputing device and the identification card being held by a scanningtool comprising a first holding portion and a second holding portion,the first holding portion holding the portable computing device in aparticular orientation, the second holding portion holding the personalidentification card in a particular orientation, the first holdingportion being structurally connected to the second holding portion in amanner such that the portable computing device and the personalidentification card are fixed in relative positions and orientationswith respect to each other and are generally parallel to and spacedapart from each other in a manner such that the camera of the portablecomputing device is able to focus on the information provided on thepersonal identification card and such that the information provided onthe personal identification card is generally maximized in the camera'sfield-of-view.
 12. A method in accordance with claim 11 wherein thescanning tool rests on a surface and the portable computing device andthe personal identification card are held by the scanning tool at anangle relative to the surface.
 13. A method in accordance with claim 11wherein the scanning comprises optically scanning a bar code provided onthe personal identification card.
 14. A method in accordance with claim13 wherein the scanning tool rests on a surface and the portablecomputing device and the personal identification card are held by thescanning tool at an angle relative to the surface.
 15. A method inaccordance with claim 11 wherein the portable computing device comprisesat least one control button or control input area and the scanning toolcomprises at least one shroud portion that covers the at least onecontrol button or control input area in a manner preventing inadvertantuse of the at least one control button or control input area.